Posts in "S.C.-7"

June 26, 2012

Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice beat former Lt. Gov. André Bauer in GOP primary runoff in South Carolina’s new 7th district. In November, he’ll face economist and former Georgia state Rep. Gloria Bromell Tinubu, who won the Democratic primary runoff against attorney Preston Brittain.

Shortly after 9 p.m., the Associated Press called the race for Rice. With 94 percent of precincts reporting, he had 56 percent to Bauer’s 44 percent.

Around the same time, the AP called the race for Bromell Tinubu. With 94 percent of precincts reporting, she had 73 percent to Brittain’s 27 percent.

Democrats and Republicans in the state do not believe Bromell Tinubu can win the race in the Myrtle Beach-anchored district. Roll Call rates the 7th district race as Safe Repubican.

Since the 7th is a new district granted to the Palmetto State in reapportionment, if Rice wins, as expected, this will be a pickup for Republicans.

June 22, 2012

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) today endorsed Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice in his contentious Tuesday runoff election against Lt. Gov. André Bauer for the GOP nomination for the state’s new 7th Congressional district.

“I and other members of the Reform Movement watched for years as Andre Bauer sided with the establishment and undercut the conservative agenda. Now he says he’s a conservative,” Haley wrote on her Facebook page. “Where was he when we needed help fighting the Obama stimulus? He was one of its biggest cheerleaders.”

“We don’t need another self-interested career politician in Washington,” she added. “Michael and I completely support Tom Rice — an accountant and tax attorney — as we continue to focus on jobs and the economy for this growing and important new district and our state,” she said. Michael Haley is the governor’s husband.

The winner of the GOP runoff will face the winner of the Democratic runoff between attorney Preston Brittain and economist and former Georgia state Rep. Gloria Bromell Tinubu.

There’s a new twist in the ongoing battle for South Carolina’s 7th Congressional district, which has been full of intrigue, profanity and legal action.

A state circuit court’s ruling today means there will now be a Democratic primary runoff on Tuesday between attorney Preston Brittain and economist and former Georgia state Rep. Gloria Bromell Tinubu.

The South Carolina State Election Commission disqualified ballots cast for state Rep. Ted Vick (D) in the June 12 primary. Vick had earlier dropped out of the race after being arrested, but his name was left on the ballot.

Discounting the votes cast for Vick, Bromell Tinubu received more than 50 percent of the ballots cast and, thus, became the nominee. But the court’s decision forced the SEC to count Vick’s votes, meaning no candidate received more than 50 percent of ballots cast, prompting a runoff.

“Election officials are now making final preparations for the Republican and Democratic Runoffs to be held next Tuesday, June 26, 2012,” the SEC said in a statement today.

Brittain is supported by the Democratic establishment and is seen as having a chance, if very slim, of winning the new Republican-leaning seat if he is the nominee. Democrats and Republicans in the state believe it is certain to be won by the GOP nominee if Bromell Tinubu is the Democratic nominee.

In the GOP runoff, former Lt. Gov. André Bauer faces off against Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice.

June 15, 2012

The South Carolina State Election Commission today confirmed that there would be no Democratic runoff in the state’s new 7th district, virtually ensuring that the district will be won by a Republican.

The commission certified Gloria Bromell Tinubu, an economist and former Georgia state Representative, as the winner of Tuesday’s primary.

At issue was whether she had received more than 50 percent of the votes cast. Originally, according to the Associated Press’ count on election night, she did not, and was poised to go to a runoff with attorney Preston Brittain, who received the second highest number of votes. Brittain was backed by the South Carolina Democratic establishment and was seen as having a shot of winning the GOP-leaning district. Full story

“We’ve got more in common with a third-world, South American country than we do with the rest of the other 49 states. This is nuts,” he added. Venezuelan leader Hugo “Chávez would conduct a fairer, better election than the Republican South Carolina [State] Election Commission.”

All of which is to say the South Carolina Democratic Party is not very happy with Tuesday’s Democratic primary election results in the state’s new 7th district.

At first, the results appeared to indicate a Democratic primary runoff between long-shot candidate Gloria Bromell Tinubu, an economist, and establishment-backed attorney Preston Brittain, since neither received the more than 50 percent required to be declared the winner outright.

But then, according to the Associated Press, the South Carolina State Election Commission disqualified the votes received by state Rep. Ted Vick (D) on the grounds that he had withdrawn from the race before primary day. That gave Tinubu more than 50 percent of the vote and the victory. Vick dropped out of the race after being arrested but remained on the ballot.

Tinubu, who was a former state Representative in Georgia, is seen by South Carolina political operatives of both parties as almost certain to lose the race in this GOP-leaning district.

“I’ve read the law. I happen to be a lawyer when I’m not wasting my time on this shit,” Harpootlian said. “If no one gets 50 percent plus one of the votes cast, there’s a runoff.”

“The election commission, some bureaucrat over there last night, said they weren’t going to count Ted Vick’s votes. I don’t know how you do that.” Harpootlian added. “He’s on the ballot!”

Harpootlian went on to explain that if Vick’s votes are counted, no one got 50 percent and, therefore, there must be a runoff.

Harpootlian said that in his conversations with the commission, it said it was unclear whether there would be a runoff or not, and a decision would be made Friday.

Harpootlian said the party would not bring a lawsuit in this matter. But he floated the possibility that there could be a new election. If a candidate files a protest with the state executive committee, and the committee votes to hold a new election because of improprieties, a new contest could be held, he said.

That election would include all the candidates. Though whether the ballots would include Vick is unclear.

A spokesman for the commission told Roll Call it would meet on Friday to certify the results and a decision would be made then. He noted the commission had heard the Democratic Party’s arguments about why Vick’s votes should be included and was seeking advice from the state’s attorney general.

June 12, 2012

Former Lt. Gov. André Bauer is headed to a runoff in South Carolina's new 7th district. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 11:59 p.m. | Colorful former Lt. Gov. André Bauer and Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice are headed to a runoff in the GOP primary in South Carolina’s new 7th district. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Bauer had 32.1 percent and Rice had 27.4 percent, according to the Associated Press. On the Democratic side, long-shot candidate Gloria Bromell Tinubu, an economist, had a much stronger-than-expected showing and squeaked out a victory over the establishment-backed Preston Brittain.

The candidates who didn’t make the GOP cut include attorney Jay Jordan and Chad Prosser, former director of the state’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. GOP operatives in the state widely expected this result. Rice has the edge in the runoff. But Bauer, a through-and-through conservative who marches to his own drum, should not be underestimated. Full story

May 31, 2012

Former South Carolina Lt. Gov. André Bauer picked up the endorsement of 2008 GOP White House hopeful and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) today.

Huckabee’s endorsement — which included the governor lending his voice to a TV ad — could give Bauer a boost in the crowded GOP primary in the 7th district, which was newly created after redistricting. Full story

May 30, 2012

Attorney Preston Brittain, vying for the Democratic nod in the Palmetto State’s new 7th district, caught a huge break last week when the frontrunner, state Rep. Ted Vick, landed in jail.

Vick was arrested Thursday on suspicion of driving under the influence and possessing an illegal firearm, according to local media reports. Also in his vehicle: a 21-year-old woman who was not his wife.

Vick, who had been the party establishment favorite, dropped his Congressional bid Friday. Full story

May 23, 2012

Attorney Jay Jordan (R), running for South Carolina’s new 7th district, launched a spot on local television today underscoring his conservative values.

The ad is backed by about $26,000 and set to run through Memorial Day weekend in the Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C., market on broadcast and cable. In the spot, Jordan attempts to differentiate himself from the the crowded GOP primary field, although it’s unclear if his approach is all that unique.

May 7, 2012

Former two-term Lt. Gov. André Bauer (R) today launched a campaign ad to boost his Congressional bid in South Carolina’s new 7th district.

Backed by uplifting music and patriotic imagery, the ad outlines his accomplishments in eight years as lieutenant governor.

“In these uncertain times, we need a leader we can count on. André Bauer is a proven conservative who blocked over $2 billion in tax increases, kept property tax relief alive, reformed the state’s office on aging, while cutting his own pay,” a male narrator says. “Think what he could do with this place,” he says, as an image of the U.S. Capitol comes on screen.

Bauer faces a competitive primary for the nomination in this likely Republican seat. Among other opponents, he will be on the ballot with Florence attorney Jay Jordan, Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice, and Chad Prosser, the former director of South Carolina’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

The Bauer ad is backed by a $40,000 buy in the Myrtle Beach-anchored district on broadcast and cable television over two weeks.